Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland

Following devolution the Scottish Office became the Office for the Secretary of State for Scotland. This is now part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

The secretary of state for Scotland, who is a member of the UK cabinet, exercises the following functions:

Representation of Scottish interests in reserved areas
Ensuring the smooth-running and success of the devolution settlement and intervening as required by the act
Transfer of funds into the Scottish Consolidated Fund
Accountability for Scottish issues to Westminster; monthly oral question session

The act established a new UK law officer - the advocate general for Scotland - to advise the UK government on all matters pertaining to Scottish law and on the referral of Scottish bills to the judicial committee of the privy council where questions on devolved competence arise.